Press Release
Louisville, KY- The Greater Louisville Sports Commission (GLSC) will host over 50 colleges and universities from 14 states in the 6th Annual Greater Louisville Classic (GLC) this Saturday September 29th. The Classic will bring together some of the top college cross country programs in the nation, as over 1,000 athletes are expected to compete at E.P. Tom Sawyer State Park. The event will not only feature vast quantity, but the quality of competing teams will be one of the best fields in the history of college cross country in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The field includes 18 men's teams and 11 women's teams that are currently or have been ranked in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Div- I Regional, NCAA Div. III National and National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Cross Country Polls this season.
In the men's race, 2006 GLC team champion University of Louisville (currently ranked #15 Nationally & #3 in the Southeast Region) should be challenged by, SEC power University of Tennessee (2005 GLC team champion) currently ranked #6 in the NCAA Div. I South Region Coaches Poll, and perennial NJCAA power Rend Lake College (IL), currently ranked #1 in the NJCAA National Coaches Poll, are the top contenders. The next group of teams expecting to via for top 5 team honors should be Ohio Valley Conference force Eastern Kentucky University, ranked #8 in the Southeast Region, Atlantic Cost Conference power Wake Forest University, currently ranked #10 in the Southeast Region, University of Southern Indiana, currently ranked #10 in the NCAA D-II National Coaches Poll, and Edinboro University (PA), ranked #11 in the NCAA D-II National Coaches Poll.
Individually, the race should come down to two of the top NCAA D-I cross country student-athletes in the nation, University of Mississippi Barnabas Kirui (2007 NCAA D-I Track & Field Steeplechase National Champion) and Eastern Kentucky University's Jacob Korir (7th @ NCAA's XC in 2006). Rend Lake's (IL) sophomore Ekahana Kibit,Wesley Korir, 2004 & 2005 GLC champion, and Soimo Kiplagat are other top contenders in the men’s race. University of Louisville teammates
The women’s race should stack up as an evenly matched affair between four squads vying for the team title. 2006 GLC team champion ACC member Georgia Tech University, ranked #7 in the South Region, University of Kentucky, currently ranked #5 in the Southeast Region, University of Louisville, currently ranked #11 in the Southeast Region, and Vanderbilt University (TN), ranked #6 in the South Region should battle for top team honors.
The women's individual race showcases University of Louisville's Tarah McKay (2006 GLC champion) and Rend Lake College (IL) newcomer Pasca Cheruiyot. The Classic is like most college cross country meets allowing clubs and individuals to compete in the same race as collegiate athletes.
This year, there will be high school races contested after college event is completed. It is expected that over 1,000 young athletes from over 30 Kentucky high schools will be competing Saturday afternoon.